John Lewis - You Cannot Tell People They Cannot Fall In Love

[seahorse05]

Rep. John Lewis,

Thank you

[moosebuddyarnie]

Great man. Heard him speak at the HRC National Dinner years ago. He was fantastic!

[DeptOfLawEnforcement]

Ensuring the safety and freedom of Lesbians, Gays, Bi-Sexuals and Transgendered individuals is both highly commendable and worthy of every praise.

Homophobia is a Preventable Crime. Make no mistake, Gay-Hate is dealt with swiftly and severely, an offense punishable by Federal law.

If you suspect Homophobia or Gay-Bullying whether online or off, report it to the Police immediately.

Prosecutions for individuals accused of anti-gay hate-speech are now pursued to the maximum extent allowable by law.

[DrawLove]

AMEN!!!!

[anjela1981]

It's always refreshing to see one minority group fighting for the equal rights of another. God bless you.

[Kumtekmeon]

Blacks who continue to OPPOSE the rights of gays, ought to be ashamed of themselves, knowing that the rights they are now enjoying today, came as a result of the hard-work of both gay and straight. Dr King did a great job, BUT we should not forget that his principles were greatly aided by a gay man - Bayard Rustin, and so it is iniquitous on their part to continue taking insult each time Civil Rights is used to describe Gay Rights. Equality IS Equality. This has nothing to do with Religion!

[Iconoclast1155]

@Kumtekmeon Beyard Rustin was a black man first and homosexual second. Beyard Rustin did not have the luxury of hiding his sexuality behind his race such as gays like you could have. The reason why MLK gets all the credit because he did all the physical work eventually dying. Rustin may have been a disseminator of ideas but unless you have someone carryout those ideas then it is nothing.

[Kumtekmeon]

@Iconoclast1155 I don't recall Bayard being blacklisted by his own for being Black, BUT he was sidelined by other Blacks for being gay, therefore his penalty for being gay was FAR greater than being Black! How do gay men today hide their sexuality behind their race? As far as I know despite GAY Black men fought in the movement to secure freedom for all Blacks they are yet to get their freedom within the Black community! You have supported my point by arguing that Bayard had to give light to MLK!

[Iconoclast1155]

@Kumtekmeon I am not talking about today’s gay man and I was stating that Beyard Rustin was black, so his best interest was to help people that looked like him. Beyard did not have the luxury of hiding his lifestyle behind skin color like many of those people during the past. America during the first half of the 20th century was family and religion oriented so of course homosexuality of would not be an excepted. His gay lifestyle would have jeopardized the civil rights movement.

[Kumtekmeon]

@Iconoclast1155 You did make reference to today's Black Gay Men. However, Bayard's interest WASN'T only to help people who looked like him, it was to SECURE full right for all disenfranchised. It is that mentality WHY some Blacks think ONLY Blacks are deserving of Civil Liberty. Can you tell me which Black/White man can hide his sexuality behind his skin color? That was Bayard's dilemma, he didn't try to hide his sexuality because it was who he was just as how his skin color was a part of him.

[Iconoclast1155]

@Kumtekmeon Are you a gay black man? I get the feeling you’re not

Gay black do enjoy the freedom to sit in any restaurant, going to school, and many other liberties. To make little of the freedoms enjoyed today by gay people is very selfish when compared to the past; also the struggle and bloodshed by straight men far outweigh what a few gay men have done. I ask you this question when you see a person what do you notice first their skin color or sexuality preference?

[Kumtekmeon]

@Iconoclast1155 2. You can only hide your sexuality through involvement in cultural expressions like the Church, family, associates, work and sporting activities; but NOT through your skin color. If Bayard having sex with other men amounts to a gay lifestyle, then MLK's sex with women denotes a 'straight lifestyle'. One's sexuality IS NOT a lifestyle, it is who a person is. A lifestyle is your cultural involvement - Things you CHOOSE to participate in. So be cautious of the terms you use.

[Kumtekmeon]

@Iconoclast1155 5. My point wasn't a theory it's factuality. When Bayard first met MLK it is reported that MLK was on a different path as he sought to have weapons in his midst. Bayard was the one who taught MLK about non-violent protest and equipped him with the strategies to effect leadership. Had MLK died with a gun in his hand he would NOT be the World hero/martyr he is seen to be today. Therefore, I am correct to say Bayard gave light to MLK. What cannot be disputed must be left out.

[Iconoclast1155]

@Kumtekmeon before i comment on that because I have doubts, where did you find the information? Was it correctly cited? and Was it revisionist? I find it hard to believe that a religious would resorts to violence, also if it came from GLAAD or the Advocate it can be disputed because they lie. Those gay groups have had an axe to grind with black people.

[Kumtekmeon]

@Iconoclast1155 What information are you asking about? It is well documented in literature and even a documentary was made titled Brother Outsider in which active members of the Civil Rights Movement credited Bayard for the great work role he played. As for the Church abusing gays, where do you think the negative attitude for gays came from? In addition it is well known that being black and gay is the worst thing in the Black community and that is because of the stigma ENCOURAGED by the Church.

[Kumtekmeon]

@Iconoclast1155 As an advocate, when I speak my points are not confined to America, as gays are all over the world. Bear in mind that when Uganda sought to pass the Kill the Gay Bill, it was linked to the Church. If you want specific I can give specific, but be sure to provide facts that GLAAD etc lie and also detail in what ways these organizations that are out to PROTECT a victimized minority have an axe with Black people - Could it be because statistics show Blacks are more cruel to gays?

[Iconoclast1155]

@Kumtekmeon

I really do not support your theory on him giving light to MLK because I said he was a disseminator of ideas, but I do believe even if he wasn’t gay he wouldn’t have achieved MLK’s success. Being successful encompasses many factors such charisma, opportunity, fortitude, and integrity. I am not saying he did not have those qualities but Martin was a better man for the job.

[Kumtekmeon]

@Iconoclast1155 3. My gender, sexuality or skin color is not important...I don't think Obama is a gay Black man, neither is Cuomo. Gay Black do NOT enjoy the freedom, what they do is ENDURE the pain of living a LIE! Straight Black enjoy those freedoms you mention. Please bear in mind that gays were also slaves, also fought through the movement, also denied education, housing and other legal benefits. So for you to say straight men suffered more is incorrect, because when much of the pains...

[Kumtekmeon]

@Iconoclast1155 4. it stopped for the straight Black man, but continues for the gay Black man. You cannot stare me in the face and tell me that the abuse of a man by a stranger is far greater than the abuse of a man by his family! You need to imagine how it feels for Black gays to be hated by their own family, community, church. As said before, I never heard of Blacks being hated by other Blacks for being black! When I see a person White or Black I see their character, NOT their skin color.

[thisisgrey]

@Kumtekmeon amen

[789Chima]

@Kumtekmeon um not to be rude but if God wanted Adam to be gay he would have gotten another guy, their must be a reason why he chose a woman.

[Kumtekmeon]

@789Chima I don't think you need to worry about being rude - Your case is more of being SILLY. IF God did want Adam to be 'straight' He would've given him Eve from the beginning. BUT it was after SIN the concept of Eve came about and one of the main reason was to fulfil the prophecy of the seed bruising the serpent's head. Remember there were no 'female' in heaven. In Christ we are neither male nor female. If God did want Stevie Wonder to be blind wouldn't he made Adam blind too? Think on that.

[ArrogantOriole]

Just...

Right on.

[neolissa]

such a powerful speech!

[shenadoa]

Why are so many in the black community so homophobic? Wouldn't there be more human compoassion?

[Kelabete]

I saw this in a documentary "Tying the Knot" about Same-sex marriage and I said "I want this speech." I wish there were a recording of the full speech, but this is great!

[LifterWill]

Huge applause to you, Mr, Lewis. Your words are filled with power and light., Dr. King would be proud of you.